Mass. Legislature Website Flunked by Sunlight Foundation
This week is Sunshine Week, when journalists and nonprofits cast a spotlight on government transparency, but there are dark clouds over the Massachusetts Legislature’s website according to one organization. The nonpartisan, nonprofit Sunshine Foundation gave the state Legislature’s website an ‘F,’ one of five states to receive a failing grade on a report card grading each state legislature website’s transparency. Websites were scored in six categories. The categories, along with the score ranges for each, Massachusetts’ scores and explanations were: Completeness (Score range: 0 or -1. Mass: -1): “Roll call votes not published on site in meaningful way.” Ease of access (Score range: -2 to 1. Mass: -2): “Site is frequently broken with no notice to users; bill information impossible to access without Javascript.” Machine Readibility (Score range: -2 to 2. Mass: -2): This category refers to the ability to collect data faster and more reliably when data was provided in formats such as XML, CSV or bulk downloads, the Sunshine Foundation said, as opposed to scanned documents or PDF images. For Massachusetts, “Vote data isn’t available; locked up in non-machine readable PDF.” Permanence (Score range: -2 to 2. Mass: -1): “A dearth of historical information, all information prior to 2009 removed.” Standards (Score range: -1 to 1. Mass: 0): which means “state provided bills in PDF and/or HTML format and nothing better (plain text, ODT, etc.)” according to the Sunshine Foundation’s methodology. Timeliness (Score range: -1 to 1. Mass: 1): The Mass. Legislature website’s lone above-average score, which means “multiple updates throughout the day, real time or as close to it as systems will allow.” The lead investigator on the Sunshine Foundation’s Open State project, James Turk, told WGBH that Massachusetts’ results were presented to the state and the Foundation “was told that not much was going to change.” State Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) told WGBH that he thought Massachusetts has improved the bill tracking process, but admitted he was frustrated that all roll call votes were not online and said the site’s transparency could be better, adding that the executive branch websites provide better transparency. Turk agreed that Massachusetts’ executive branch “has been doing a great job.” Do you agree with the Legislature website’s grade? What would you like to see available on the site? And how would you grade your town or city government’s website on transparency? Tell us in the comments. South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: Flunked, Foundation, Legislature, Mass., Sunlight, Website
Police Arrest Homeless Woman on Drug, Larceny Charges on Mass. Ave
The following information was supplied by the Boston Police Department. Charges listed do not indicate convictions. Boston Police Officers arrested a suspect on several warrants on Saturday, March 9 at 9:34 a.m. near 725 Mass. Ave. Officers arrested Monique Miller, listed as homeless, for a Possession of Class B substance, and two shoplifting warrants out of Lynn District Court. Miller also had warrants out of Boston Municipal Court for two counts of Larceny under $ 250 by single scheme, and two counts of Larceny from a person over 65. Additionally, Miller had two straight warrants out of Boston Municipal Court for intimidating a witness and trespassing. While booking Miller, officers found a prescription bottle with the label removed and three different kinds pills. The bottle contained 19 Cyclobenzaprine, 12 Acetaminophen, and 10 unidentified round white pills. Miller was also charged with possession of a Class E substance for the Cyclobenzaprine. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Featured Open House: Mass. Ave 3-Bed, $599K
South End Patch
Two Men Charged in Mass Ave Mugging
The following information was supplied by the Boston Police Department. Charges listed do not indicate conviction. Boston Police responded to a report of an armed robbery in the rear of the Massachusetts Avenue T stop at about 10:34 p.m. on Monday, March 4. The victim told police that three teenage males robbed him and fled towards Claremont Park. The victim told police he was walking home from work when three males walked towards him. One of the males reportedly asked the victim, “Yo, where are you from?,” to which the victim replied “Southie.” At this point, one of the males shouted, “Pop him.” The suspects punched and kicked the victim in the head and body, knocking him to the ground. The suspects grabbed the victim’s backpack, his watch and five dollars, and then fled towards Massachusetts Avenue. The victim followed his attackers and called 911. Responding officers fanned out and located two people who matched the description of the suspects. One was near Columbus Avenue and Worcester Street, the other was near West Springfield Street and Columbus Avenue. Officers stopped one of the suspects and noted that he was sweating profusely, despite the cold temperature. Officers patted the suspect down, placed him in handcuffs and told him that he was not under arrest. Officers also brought back another person matching the description of the suspect for identification. The victim identified both men as two of his three attackers. The third attacker was not found. Officers charged Tomas Martinez of 2 Center Street, Roxbury, and Anthony Sharpe of 47 Warwick Street, Boston with armed robbery and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. Boston EMS Ambulance treated the victim for bruising and facial lacerations. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Woman Charged with Stabbing Man at Mass. Ave Residence
The following information was supplied by the Boston Police Department. Charges listed do not indicate a conviction. Boston Police arrested a South End woman for allegedly stabbing a male victim on Saturday night. Boston Police Officers responded to an assault and battery in progress at 567 Mass. Ave. at about 1 a.m. on February 23. On arrival, officers spoke with the victim who stated that he had had an argument with a woman. The argument turned violent at some point. Officers observed scratch marks on the victim’s face and slash marks on his right arm. The victim stated that the suspect had stabbed him. While one officer spoke with the victim, another was outside of the residence speaking to the suspect. When officers went to place the suspect under arrest, the victim demanded that they arrest him too. The victim refused to answer any more questions and reportedly became verbally hostile to the police. Officers placed the suspect under arrest and lead her to the cruiser. When they instructed the suspect to get in, the suspect reportedly braced herself against the car and kicked one of the officers. Eventually, officers were able to place the suspect in the back seat of the cruiser. Officers charged Niah Chapman of 567 Massachusetts Avenue with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch